Building Retrofitting
Building Retrofitting in Çayyolu
If the earthquake performance of your complex or apartment building is in question, we plan the whole process with you, from the certified assessment to the work on site.
Overview
Requests for building retrofitting in Çayyolu often begin at a residents’ meeting: one neighbour raises the earthquake report, and the management board sets out to find out what should be done. Because our office is in this area, we know the buildings along Ankara’s western corridor well, and we explain the technical side of the retrofitting decision to owners in clear, plain language.
Retrofitting aims to increase a building’s earthquake capacity while preserving its structural system. Which intervention is needed is determined not by guesswork but by a building-specific inspection and engineering calculations. At Çayyolu Architecture & Construction, we first guide you to the right diagnostic process, then carry out the approved design on site in full.
01
Çayyolu’s Residential Complexes and the Retrofitting Decision
A large share of Çayyolu’s building stock consists of complex blocks built by cooperatives and contractors in different periods. Even within the same complex, blocks may have been built at different times by different teams, so it is not sound to generalise the result for one block to another.
Villas and semi-detached houses within a complex need to be assessed separately from the apartment blocks. Past alterations such as converting the basement into a garage or removing walls on the ground floor can affect the structural system; we make a point of noting such traces during the survey.
- Separate inspection and separate planning for each block
- Checking whether past renovations touched structural elements
- Handling car park, shelter and communal floors separately
02
Retrofitting Methods We Use in Çayyolu’s Blocks
We apply whichever method is specified in the approved retrofit design. Common solutions for reinforced concrete complex blocks include carbon fibre (CFRP) wrapping, column jacketing and adding new reinforced concrete shear walls. The choice depends on the building’s floor plan, its pattern of use and the engineer’s calculations.
We work out the sequence of works with the management so that residents’ daily lives are disrupted as little as possible. After retrofitting, the same team can take on the renewal of removed finishes, plaster and wet areas as part of a turnkey renovation.
Location
Map of Çayyolu
Our Process
How Does the Process Work in Çayyolu?
01
Initial meeting with management
We meet the complex management or the building representative and listen to the building’s history, the documents you hold and residents’ concerns.
02
Licensed assessment process
We guide you in applying to a licensed laboratory and engineers for core sampling and performance analysis.
03
Quotation based on the design
We review the approved retrofit design and prepare a transparent, itemised quotation for the work.
04
Delivery and handover
Once municipal approval is in place, we carry out the work faithfully to the design and document every stage so it is ready for inspection.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t find the answer you are looking for? Give us a call — we will listen to your project and answer your questions right away.
0312 240 51 51Do you carry out the core test at our complex in Çayyolu?
No. Taking core samples and determining concrete strength is the job of licensed laboratories, while the building’s performance analysis is the job of licensed civil engineers. We guide you to the right institution and take on the work once you have the approved design in hand.
Can we keep living in our flats during retrofitting?
That depends on the scope of the intervention specified in the design. During work on the basement and certain columns, life usually goes on as normal; extensive interventions inside the flats may require temporary arrangements. We give a definite answer once we have seen the approved design.
Should we retrofit or go for urban transformation?
This decision is made based on the technical report and the owners’ preferences. Where retrofitting does not make technical or economic sense, we can also look at the urban transformation option together.
Do we pay for the initial survey?
No, the initial survey and first meeting are free of charge. You can call 0312 240 51 51 or send us the name of your complex and a short description on WhatsApp.
Free site visit
Let’s plan your project together
With 20 years of experience, we inspect your space on site and present the right solution with a clear roadmap. The site visit and first meeting are free of charge.